My post states I don't claim to know what the factory did. Only what I see. As far as I can tell from those who have greater knowledge than I is they were painted full gloss and they were painted semi-gloss. I have not owned hundreds but a longtime friend has and sent as many through a crusher has his opinion too. But it really does not matter because after all this I still do not know what's correct.

Not a great example. Not a survivor, but OP in the jambs. Clearly not glossy, but the RG next to it isn't either. I would like to go back and check the trunk side of the w/s since that is an area that has neither seen the weather/elements nor has been rubbed/waxed.

My guess is that it was probably inconsistent, but I don't know. The only OP BB car we've done was about 10 years ago. Only have a couple poor pics, but it shows no reflection compared to the yellow next to it (kept indoors since the early-mid 70s) and would've made a mental note had it been glossy since back then the debate didn't really exist and the satin was what was thought to be correct.

I guess it is possible there could have been some variance, but ALL of the original ones I remember in the late 60s and early 70s (not the ones 40 years old that have been waxed) were not shiny. Satin is what I would call them.

Talked to a friend who was a body and paint man for over 40 years and he said they were satin. He said there were several different blends that were used, but there were not what you would call a regular gloss paint. They did have to add flattening agents to the paint. That information was provided to the paint reps from the factory. Now I guess that could explain why there is some variance.

In my opinion, Jim Mattison would be considered an expert and his opinion was stated earlier in this thread.

Buddy and RamAirDave, thanks for the images of the paint in the trunk area.

"Listen to the experts on this because you nor I are one of them." And the experts are ? And you know I am not a expert because ? I have been collecting and working on Camaro's for probably 35 years and have owned probably a couple hundred. I feel pretty confident that the examples I posted were not shiny because of being waxed over the years. I make no claims to be the expert but I know what I have seen over the years and I try to pay attention to orig cars. The Yenko was a 8000 mile car and the green L78 is a maybe 12000 mile car ?

In my opinion the tail panels and rockers were painted semi gloss. My focus has always been on the survivor cars and have had access to dozens of survivor cars and none have had a full gloss tail panels. I own survivor cars and the black tail panels and rockers were not painted with the same paint used when they painted the complete exterior black. I would estimate it is 70-80 percent gloss. Sorry Charley, but I can't let you get away without a counter point.

Jim Mattison is also the guy that insists my 67 Pace car was built with a 427 even though I have the GM work orders calling for a 396. JohnZ also insisted his steel brake lines around the master cylinder came painted black. Lots of people have expertise, just not in all areas. Jerry MacNeish wrote books on Camaro's and in the books called out Satin I believe but even Jerry recently stated he looked at a very orig 68 and it was very shiny and might have to make a change to his book. Brian Hendersen of Supercar Workshop does what are considered the best Camaro restorations there are also says they are gloss. He was a top judge at Camaro's at Carlisle for years.

For the record I do not possess 45 years of Camaro history nor have the most knowledgeable restoration data on exactness. And I respect all those who do. I'm just trying to sort all this out.

So one claim is the stripes and tailpanel were painted with unflattened lacquer (black stripes here). Which would mean they have identical sheens. Why has no one ever doubted that the stripes were or were not glossy? The stripes and rear panel would maintain the same integrity or degradation throughout the years on any given car. So how is it that the stripes reamain glossy and the tailpanel supposedly does not? Where is a person that pulled the trigger on these cars? I know what comes out of my nozzle.

I WAS THERE when these cars rolled into the dealerships and my friends bought them(I couldn't afford one). I saw them and they were not gloss.

Buddy, we can disagree but do it respectfully. There is no room for your last comment. Lets take a step back and calm down. This forum is means to share ideas, information and theories. If each of us weren't allowed to voice his opinion (without being ridiculed) then we would never learn about these cars through others experiences. There is a wealth of information knowledge on this site let's keep it flowing by respecting each other.

JohnZ also insisted his steel brake lines around the master cylinder came painted black

I don't know if JohnZ actually said that but I know mine were painted black in 1983 when I bought my PC, along with my booster. The brake lines still are and its not from someones rattlecan restoration of the engine compartment of my car. All of the armored lines on the front subframe are painted black from the master cylinder thu the proportioning valve to the bracket out on the outer edge of the subframe, while none of the brackets or clamps on the lines (the little rubber ones that hold the lines together have paint on them.